MOSCOW: Russia has condemned the United States for its airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, accusing Washington of “sowing chaos and destruction” in the Middle East. The criticism comes after the US launched airstrikes on more than 85 targets.
In a statement, Russia’s foreign ministry maintained that the US, confident in its impunity, continues to exacerbate tensions in the region. The ministry decisively condemned the airstrikes, emphasizing the deliberate efforts to further inflame the conflict.
Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, stated, “By attacking, almost without pause, the facilities of alleged armed groups in Iraq and Syria, the United States is deliberately trying to drive the largest countries in the region into conflict.” Zakharova highlighted the need for the situation to be considered by the UN Security Council, indicating Russia’s intent to bring the matter to international attention.
The US launched the airstrikes in retaliation for a drone attack that resulted in the deaths of three US soldiers in Jordan on Sunday. The military operation targeted a total of 85 locations at seven different sites in Syria and Iraq. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at least 23 fighters killed in Syria, while the Baghdad government disclosed 16 casualties in Iraq, including civilians.
Earlier on Saturday, Syria vehemently declared that the “occupation of parts of Syrian territory by US forces cannot continue.” The Syrian military, in a statement released on Saturday, detailed the consequences of the overnight strikes, highlighting the casualties among civilians and soldiers, as well as huge damage to public and private property.
“The occupation of parts of Syrian territory by US forces cannot continue,” the statement asserted, underscoring the military’s unwavering commitment to liberate all Syrian territory from both terrorism and occupation.
Meanwhile, Iraq has strongly condemned the US strikes against armed groups on its territory, terming it as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty.
General Yehia Rasool, a spokesman for Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani, in a statement warned of disastrous consequences of such attacks for the country and beyond.
He said Friday’s strikes in western Iraq near the Syrian border are violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and will bring terrible consequences for the security and stability of Iraq and the entire region.
بيان
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تتعرض مدن القائم والمناطق الحدودية العراقية إلى ضربات جوية من قبل طائرات الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، إذ تأتي هذه الضربات في وقت يسعى فيه العراق جاهدا لضمان استقرار المنطقة.
ان هذه الضربات تعد خرقا للسيادة العراقية وتقويضا لجهود الحكومة العراقية ، وتهديدا…— يحيى رسول | Yehia Rasool (@IraqiSpoxMOD) February 2, 2024
Palestinian resistance group Hamas on Saturday condemned overnight US strikes in Iraq and Syria, saying Washington had poured “oil on the fire” in the Middle East. The group said that the United States had exacerbated tensions in the Middle East.
Hamas held Washington accountable for the consequences of what it deemed “brutal aggression” against both Iraq and Syria. “We confirm that the region will not witness stability or peace except by stopping the Zionist (Israeli) aggression and the crimes of genocide and ethnic cleansing against our people in the Gaza Strip,” Hamas said in a statement released in English-language.
Tehran has condemned the US air strikes on Iraq and Syria, denouncing them as a “strategic mistake” that will only escalate tensions and instability in the region. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanani, labeled the attacks as an “adventurous action” by the US government, questioning its consequences and impact.
Kanani stated, “The US military attacks on Iraq, Syria, and Yemen merely provide for the goals of the Zionist regime,” referring to the close ties between the United States and its ally, Israel. He emphasized that the airstrikes violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq and Syria, in addition to being a breach of international law and a blatant violation of the United Nations charter.
Earlier, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Saturday called on all sides to avoid further escalation in the Middle East following US strikes on armed groups in Iraq and Syria. The EU foreign policy chief expressed these remarks at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
Josep Borrell said that everybody should make an effort to avoid the situation becoming explosive in the region. The US launched air strikes in Syria and Iraq on Friday, with US President Joe Biden promising more to come in retaliation for a drone strike on US forces near the Syrian border.
